Don’t ever say I didn’t show you anything. Or tell you anything. Because I’m probably about to scar you for life. I’ve whined and complained during this pregnancy about my stretch marks. How horrible they are, how much I hate them and how they kind of make me want to vomit. I always feel like I have to precede any complaint with an explanation of how thankful I am for my pregnancy, like being unhappy with a side effect of pregnancy somehow makes me seem less grateful for it, but you know what? That’s ridiculous. No matter how much you love your children, that doesn’t mean you have to love the ugly scars, hemorrhoids or saggy boobs that your pregnancies have left you with. Obviously any of us would take these unpleasant things a million times over to get our baby out of it, but if given the choice, we’d always opt out of the ugly stuff and just take the baby if we could!
I don’t think I fully realized how lucky I was in my pregnancy with Knox. My only stretch marks were a few on my boobs (which have largely faded away) and some nasty deep ones on my left side (which have actually gotten worse and darker). I had not a single mark on my stomach, although my belly button was left looking a little strange.
Case in point, my first belly pic with Brody- I seriously want to punch my past self right now for being all skinny and pretty-skinned.
Because, my stomach will never look like that again. Like, never. Okay. Take a deep breath because you’re about to see the full extent of the horror occurring on my belly right now. That’s right. I’m going to show you my stretch marks in all their “glory.”
I am crazy for showing you this.
And kind of horrified.
Um, okay. Rip off the Band-aid.
::Crickets:: Um, where are the stretch marks?? Oh, well, this is the freak of nature right side of my stomach that is apparently immune to them. But don’t worry. Because this is what the left looks like:
Obviously the ones over my belly button are the worst. The ones on my side are pretty bad, too. And I have to say, a picture doesn’t really show the full extent, especially pictures taken into the mirror with my phone. They’re darker in person, but they’re going to be a LOT worse when Brody comes out because they’re stretched out right now. I’m just going to avoid mirrors for, oh, ever after delivery. At least my boobs will be huge for a while afterwards thanks to breast feeding. Maybe that will distract me!
So, how do you deal with the battle scars of motherhood? Ignore them? Embrace them? Cover them? Surgically reduce/ enhance them? What’s worked for you?
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Stretch marks or no stretch marks. I still think you’re beautiful. Wear them proud Mama. You fought hard for your babies! They don’t shock me much but that’s probably because I’ve had years to mourn my skin since I’m overweight and I got them for being fat without a child
I don’t know, I know it’s probably really tough for you since you’re used to such flawless skin, but like I said, I think you’re gorgeous with or without them. I hope they don’t bring you down too much. Sending lots of love your way.
Erin, that is just the sweetest comment ever. Thank you!! I’m sorry you have had to deal with them, too- not much fun! I’ve already got them all over my hips from puberty, but they’re really skinny and white, so they’re easier to overlook.
You poor thing – they look painful, but they honestly aren’t the horrible things that I had invissioned! The ones beside you stomach just look like veins showing through your skin. Brody better be one good baby who sleeps all the time – he at least owes you that much!
I say rock them – they really are battle scars.
Sam will be rocking her battle scar in a two-peice one day and I hope she is proud of it. You should be proud too! 
You are so right- this boy better be well-behaved!! He’s really stressed his mother out lately!
They do look very vein-like in the picture… and new ones pop up every single day! It’s very scary and like the worst “Where’s Waldo” game ever… find the new stretch mark! LOL
I was ready to flick you in the ear when I saw your first picture
At least you have one side that looks ok! Just make sure when you walk by mirror with your midriff bare that your good side is showing!. They will fade away eventually and you will be your hot mama self again!
Bwahaha at the ear flick! I will totally have to move my mirror to the other wall of the bathroom so that’s the only side I see!
I thought I had hit the motherload with not getting any stretchmarks with baby #2. I didn’t get any with my first pregnancy so I thought I had been given the best anti-stretchmark genes ever! I was 6 months preggo with baby #2 and still not a one. Then, I woke up one morning. And, there they were. All over my belly. Someone apparently let a cougar in and it scratched me up while I was sleeping and I slept right through it. I couldn’t believe it. I was bummed. But, my husband kept assuring me that I was beautiful no matter what. I changed my thinking to one of, “I could be in the scenario where I have no stretch marks, but a baby in the NICU (or something worse) and *if* stretchmarks are the worst thing that happen to me and/or my child then I’ll gladly take it! Plus, being married gives me the joy of taking it down a notch and not having to impress my husband. LOL
So true! Thank goodness for husbands that love us no matter what!!
I think you’re absolutely right that we shouldn’t pretend that we love the “battle scars” which come along with pregnancy. It certainly doesn’t mean that we would trade them for our healthy babies, but yeah, they’re no fun and we shouldn’t be ashamed of admitting that!
I’d say I have a few more stretch marks than you because they’re all over my belly, but they don’t really bother me that much. Before I was even married I had a few stretch marks on my hips from puberty and because of those I knew that stretch marks fade. I got plenty of stretch marks with my pregnancy and while they started out angry looking like yours they faded quite a bit during the first year and now 2 years post-baby they’re pretty faint. That doesn’t mean that they’re gone because they’re still obviously there, but they’re definitely not quite as obvious.
But yeah, I just pretty much ignore them. I’m really glad they’ve faded. Maybe they don’t bother me so much because my tummy was never as cute as yours to begin with
And I also have a nice C/S scar and pooch that I’d wish away before the stretch marks. I figure my husband and I are the only ones who see them and my husband had better be able to look past them since I got them growing his baby!
I thought I was going to be one of the ‘lucky’ ones. I went through 42 weeks of pregnancy and not a SINGLe mark! NOT ONE! And then about 2 weeks after giving birth to my almost 9 pounder I woke up with them on my inner thighs and bootay. And then I got them on my calves?Who gets them there?? The ones on my calves completely disappeared but the ones on my boobs and thighs stayed and turned white.This time around I have no knew ones (yet- I’m 26 weeks) but I was sent mama mio stretch mark cream a week ago to try, hopefully I’ll see a difference! If I do I’ll let ya know!
How crazy that you got them afterward?! Those suckers sneak up on you when you least expect it! Definitely let me know if the Mama Mio is worth buying!
I haven’t had many stretchmarks yet, between Laura and this second pregnancy. But I still have four months to go. I’m sure they’re on their way!
I love you! Your whole first paragraph is so incredibly spot-on and yay for you for putting it out there. It’s hard for me, talking to people who act like every single second of pregnancy and motherhood is so incredibly amazing…get real! It’s wonderful, yes, but it’s also really darn hard, and I’m the first to admit it. I love other Mama’s who do too!
Nothing I say will make you hate those marks any less – but they really are battle scars, Mama. Look at how amazingly hard you’ve worked to bring your beautiful boys into the world safely. A total Mama warrior. Those marks can be taken care of later (yay for lasers!) if they really bother you, but in the meantime…know you are beautiful and strong and you and your body are total rockstars.
xoxo
Megan, you know I love you, too! I have to agree, I think it’s better to actually come out with the things that are hard for us to do/ deal with so other mamas know what motherhood is actually like… a false image of a perfect existence isn’t helpful to anyone!
Yes, I plan on partaking in some laser treatment once I save up some $. Should take approximately 25 years.
I say you can rock them …but still hate them …..besides …..its your body you have the right to not like certain things ……but Im sure they will fade in time and they wont seem such a big deal! I second that B better be a good little boy!
I got them with my first pretty bad, I was really big and all belly. Then suprisingly they faded away within 12 months. I know this because when my daughter was 13 months I found out I was pregnant again so I took a belly shot and my gosh I look back on it and I am so skinny and my skin is all lovely!
The same stretchmarks just got darker when I was pregnant for the second time, however after he was born they didn’t seem to fade as quick. Even though I was smaller.
He is 15 months old now and they have faded a lot but I can still see them. Have faith – they will fade! ALOT!
You are still beautiful and I love you’re belly!
Thanks, Amba!
Jess, I know exactly what you mean!! With my first pregnancy i put the weight on so quickly i was one giant stretch mark from the backs of my knees up to the tops of my thighs, with only a couple of my chest and side. This time around im carrying a lot smaller so i thought id avoided them all together….nope!! I too have them down my actual belly and near my belly button. They will fade well im sure but what the heck!! I think its because i popped late and quickly with this one. Either way, you’re right, we would do anything for our babies, but with all that motherhood bring you/ we are still beautiful women, just doing what we do best!!!
I definitely blame popping early, as well. I know that’s why I got them so quickly and badly this time… because I’ve been this size for months, now! Sorry you didn’t escape them, either!
PS: I too have one side that seems to be completely unaffected….But strangely thats the side she carries on…..No rhyme or reason to it me thinks…lol.
It’s the opposite for me- Brody loves my left side, which is the bad one. Strange! You’re totally right, there’s no logical reasoning for any of this stuff!
mine aren’t red & tiger scratch looking- but they’re still there.
let’s just say- i’ll never wear a bikini again. poop.
Man that was like looking at myself in the mirror. Thankfully my two ladies up top have been spared, but my thighs also got it pretty bad too. I don’t even know if I have words of encouragement here…lol. Stretch marks suck, I loathe them. And I have to say I get a bit jealous when another gal walks away from pregnancy without them. Thankfully our babies are always worth the battle scars….that and one pieces have become sooooo much more adorable these days!
You’re so right! I have been pinning lots of cute one-pieces lately!
C was born at 38 weeks and I did not have one single stretch mark…until 37 weeks! AHH! I was so annoyed. That last week it was like my stomach exploded and a tiger attacked me all at the same time. My boobs are a whole ‘nother story. I won’t necessarily wear them proud, but it’s a reminder of my pregnancy and the awesome things my body can do
Pregnancy is definitely an amazing thing, even if it ruins our bodies sometimes!!
Oh I feel your pain! Mine were mostly around my belly button with my first and after I had him, my stomach sagged and was wrinkly like elephant skin. No turning back, couldn’t get worse right?
Well NOW I somehow managed to get even more with this pregnancy! They look a lot like yours, and I swear my skin burns. What I don’t understand is how this is happening, I mean, the skin already stretched out once before right? Why now?!?!
Mine itches.
When I found out I was pregnant, I saw this on pinterest… It completely changed the way I saw stretch marks! Hope it helps ya too!
http://pinterest.com/pin/157766793165817624/
Jamie, I’ve seen that and love it!
Hi Jessica! I’m not sure if I’ve ever left you a comment, but I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and felt called to comment.
I thought I’d get through pregnancy stretch-mark free, no problem (I’m definitely not a tiny girl, so figured there was plenty of skin to stretch). I kid you not – I looked like you look now at 21 weeks. No joke. By the time I delivered, my entire abdomen and sides looked like they had been attacked by a tiger and my thighs looked like zippers were running down them! Soo unsightly! But, the funny thing is that now that I’m no longer pregnant and am instead holding an 8 month old baby in my arms, I actually hold tightly to the ones on my belly as a reminder of the time we got to be together as one. (the ones on my thighs can hit the road, for sure!) They’re fading, but won’t go away (especially the really deep ones), and I kinda don’t want them to, because it’s a physical mark of the transformation that I’ve gone through… now if only I could lose these last couple of pounds. 
Don’t despair! You’re still so pretty!
I’m sorry you got hit so hard! Your attitude is so great, though- what a great way to look at it!
Hey! I have never commented on your site but I enjoy reading your blog. I must tell you that you do not have it bad at all!!! I carried triplets for 33 weeks and gained 41 pounds! My stomach was stretch mark free up until 29 weeks. But oh those last 4 weeks did some major damage. And it didn’t help that I developed pupps rash and had to itched my stomach alot. You look great!! My plan…..embrace them for now while I eat beans for dinner for the next 10 years so I can eventually afford a tummy tuck
Best of luck to you for the rest of your pregnancy!
Heidi, I can’t imagine how hard it would be to carry triplets, but you are awesome for doing it! I’m so sorry you had PUPPS on top of everything else, that seems like the most miserable pregnancy affliction ever! LOL- enjoy your beans for dinner, and hopefully that tummy tuck won’t take too long to save for!
Girlfriend, you look wonderful! So, you’ve joined the stretch mark club…oh well. You’re still beautiful and you have 1 (soon to be 2) perfect little boys to show for them
Thank you, Amber! The boys are definitely worth the club membership.
I used a mixture of Mama mio and coconut oil… It worked wonders!
Thanks for sharing and showing us the real you!!!! First of all they are not bad at all!!!!!! You should be proud of them which I know you are!! I have a few stretch marks myself and I used to get so upset about them but I have learned to embrace them, no one is perfct and so many people have them!! You are beautiful girl!
Thank you, Lea!
Thank you for sharing your battle scars! I unfortunately have gotten a lovely vericose vein in my left calf. Never had one before, only the spider veins and this one is huge! I’m so thankful I’m mostly pregnant during winter so I can hide it. Come Spring/Summer, I’m praying it dissappears after the baby is born. I live in TX where it is ridiculously hot and you have to wear shorts. For now I’m stuck wearing the compression hose thigh highs every day that sometimes under your pants make your legs look like sausages!
Hoping you get lucky and they fade for you after Brody comes!! At least you are near the end now and shouldn’t get many more. Hang in there!!!
Caroline, I hope that vein goes away! I think they can do laser therapy on those and shrink them down to almost nothing, just in case it tries to hang around! I totally know what you mean, though, it’s hot as blazes here, too, and you’d sweat to death if you couldn’t wear shorts!
I have in.sane. stretch marks, and sagging skin, along with a c-section incision. I think I balled the first week every time I looked in the mirror. Now pants do not fit me right anymore. I’m so NOT a platic-surgeon person, but I am HIGHLY considering it after I’m done having children. I can’t even exercise without the loose skin flapping around
MIndy, I never wanted to consider plastic surgery, either, but I totally understand what you mean! After I weaned Knox, the way my boobs looked was probably the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen! I’d definitely consider small implants and some laser stretch mark removal/ reduction in the next couple years!
I feel your pain!!!! My right side has more stretch marks than the left; it looks so off!
I had the same situation-terrible (if not worse) stretchmarks and all of my friends were the bounce back type….my stomach was totally ruined after first pregnancy-luckily for me, second pregnancy didn’t “do me in.” I showed my mom my stomach after my first son and her response was, “what happened to you?”
I would love to have a tummy tuck one day-not because of the stretch marks, I don’t care about that-the flabby skin drives me nuts! I lost a lot of extra weight after my first so it wasn’t noticeable while I was clothed (luckily I don’t wear a bathing suit for modesty reasons [Jewish] so I don’t care). My second is 5 months so I’m working toward that again-and it is happening! It’s totally achievable. Yes, it was harder this time around, but my weight gain was totally different this time-no real swelling, much more junk.
I highly recommend the Lotte Berk Method Hip Hugger Abs for immediate flattening, then the 30-Day Shred for great results, as well as Weight Watchers for weight loss
It’s all worth it though
The 30 Day Shred is a killer! It makes you truly hate Jillian Michaels while you’re doing it, doesn’t it?! But it works!
Oh lady, I was expecting something bad! Seriously, i feel for you b/c stretch marks are stretch marks, and who wants those. However truly they don’t look that bad at all, I promise
You are my new hero! You are the only woman I know that has ever posted pics of their stretch marks!
You are still one hot Mama!! Stretch marks or not!
Ha, thanks Marcie! I don’t know how heroic I am, but hey, I figure I’ve gotta keep it real!
Im sure you’ve seen this before but i thought you might like this
http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/157766793165817624_kqqR8BQZ_c.jpg